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Psalm 88 (NLT)
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1 O Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out to you by day.
I come to you at night.

2 Now hear my prayer;
Listen to my cry.

3 For my life is full of troubles,
And death draws near.

4 I am as good as dead,
Like a strong man with no strength left.

5 They have left me among the dead
and I lie like a corpse in a grave.
I am forgotten,
cut off from your care.

6 You have thrown me into the lowest pit,
Into the darkest depths.

8 You have driven my friends away
by making me repulsive to them.
I am in a trap with no way of escape.

9 My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Each day I beg for your help, O Lord;
I lift my hands to you for mercy.

10 Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead?
Do the dead rise up and praise you?

11 Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love?
Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

12 Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds?
Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?

13 Oh Lord, I cry out to you.
I will keep pleading day by day.

14 O Lord, why do you reject me?
Why do you turn your face from me?

15 I have been sick and close to death since my youth.
I stand helpless and desperate before you.

18 You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
Darkness is my closest friend.

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Psalm 13 (NLT)
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1 O Lord how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?

2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
With sorrow in my heart every day?

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

4 Don’t let my enemies [The Enemy] gloat, saying “We [I] have defeated him [her]!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

6 I will sing to the Lord
because He is good to me.

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Psalm 143 (NLT)
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1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my plea!
answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Don’t put your servant on trial,
For no one is innocent before you.

3 My enemy has chased me.
He has knocked me to the ground
and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

4 I am losing all hope;
I am paralyzed with fear.

5 I [barely] remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done.

6 I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
For my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
Or I will die.

8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies [The Enemy] Lord;
I run to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will,
For you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.

11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies [The Enemy]
And destroy all my foes,
for I am [trying to be] your servant.